Stair settings: Railings tab

The settings on the tab can be saved as a set and then loaded, replacing the current tab parameters.

Click the Railings tab to set the stair’s handrail and guardrail parameters. The Railings tab is divided into three panes. On the left, the handrail and guardrail categories display, along with each current setting for the left, right, or both sides of the stair. Handrail and guardrail parameters are set separately. Click a disclosure arrow to reveal handrail or guardrail parameter categories. Select a category to edit its parameter settings in the middle pane. On the right, three previews display the railing cross-section, top/plan stair view, and isometric stair view.

Parameter	Description
Railing Settings	Saves settings so they can quickly be applied again; see Using saved sets for stair settings
View	Determines the view to apply the parameters to the stair; depending on drawing settings like layer scale and the document preference Hide details, the detailed or schematic view status is displayed
Detailed	Applies the railing parameters to stairs in a detailed layer scale view
Schematic	Applies the railing parameters to stairs in a schematic scaled view
Accept for all views	Applies the railing parameters to stairs in all views (detailed and schematic)
Accept Settings for	Select the railing to which the current settings apply
Left/Right or Outside/Inside railing	Applies the parameters to the selected side only
Both sides	Applies the parameters to railings on both sides
Handrail
Show handrail	When selected, adds a handrail to the stair and enables the handrail parameters; Show displays for the handrail settings
Position
Height	Sets the vertical distance from the leading edge of the tread/nosing to the top of the handrail
Handrail Position	Select whether the railing is on the stair or next to the stair
Offset to Tread Edge	Indicates the distance between the edge of the stair (the solid structure or the stringers) and the handrail
Top Rail
Profile Type	Select the basic geometry of the top rail: ● Line: A 3D polyline serves as the railing profile ● Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the railing profile ● Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width ● Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and height
Width	Sets the width for flat, rough, and square top railing geometry
Height	Sets the height of rectangular top railing geometry
Bottom Extension	Specifies the distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the first tread or start of the stair; select whether the bottom extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair
Top Extension	Specifies the distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the last/top tread/end of the stair; select whether the top extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair
Guardrail
Show guardrail	When selected, adds a guardrail to the stair and enables the guardrail parameters; Show displays for the guardrail settings
Position
Height	Sets the vertical distance from the leading edge of the tread/nosing to the top of the guardrail
Guardrail Position	Select whether the railing is on the stair or next to the stair
Offset to Tread Edge	Indicates the distance between the edge of the stair (the solid structure or the stringers) and the guardrail
Top Rail
Create Top Rail	Select whether to create a top rail on the guardrail
Profile Type	Select the basic geometry of the top rail: ● Line: A 3D polyline serves as the railing profile ● Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the railing profile ● Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width ● Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and height
Width	Sets the width for flat, rough, and square top railing geometry
Height	Sets the height of rectangular top railing geometry
Start at Bottom	Defines where the top rail of the guardrail begins: ● At Post: The top rail begins at the first post ● At Tread: The top rail begins at the stair tread ● Extend Tread by: Sets a specific distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the first tread or start of the stair. Select whether the bottom extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair.
End at Top	Defines where the top rail of the guardrail ends: ● At Post: The top rail ends at the last post ● At Tread: The top rail ends at the stair tread ● Extend Tread by: Sets a specific distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the last/top tread/end of the stair. Select whether the bottom extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair.
Frame
Create Frame	Select whether to create a frame on the guardrail
Frame Type	Sets the geometry for the area below the top rail, and between posts: ● Frame: Adds a frame to support the frame bars; the frame must include at least one of the top, bottom, or left-right vertical supports ● Panel: Adds a solid panel below the top rail
Top/Bottom/Left-Right Verticals	Select options to include in the frame
Offset to Top Rail	Indicates the perpendicular distance between the bottom of the top railing, and the top of the frame or panel
Offset to Stair	Sets the perpendicular distance between the leading edge of the tread/nosing or the bottom of the frame or panel
Profile Type	For Frame types, sets the frame cross-section geometry: ● Line: A 3D polyline serves as the railing profile ● Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the railing profile ● Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width ● Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and height
Width	Sets the width of the frame or panel
Height	Sets the height of rectangular profiles
Frame Bars
Create horizontal bars	Select whether to create horizontal frame bars
Create vertical bars	Select whether to create vertical frame bars
Profile Type	Sets the cross-section geometry of the frame bars: ● Line: A 3D polyline serves as the frame bar profile ● Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the frame bar profile ● Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by thickness ● Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by thickness and depth
Thickness	Sets the thickness of round and square frame bar profiles
Depth	Sets the depth of rectangular frame bar profiles
Maximum Distance	Specifies the maximum distance between centerlines of frame bar geometry, setting the spacing of the frame bars
Posts
Create Posts	Select whether to create vertical supports of the top rail and frames
Shape	Sets the geometry of the guardrail posts: ● Line: A 3D polyline serves as the post profile ● Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no depth, serves as the post profile ● Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width ● Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and depth
Width	Sets the width for flat, round, and rectangular posts
Depth	Sets the depth of rectangular posts
Arrangement	Determines how to place the posts
On each tread	Places one post at the midpoint of the tread depth for each tread
Distance (approx.)	Specifies the distance between each post
Placement	Links the post positions on the left and right sides of the stair based on one of these methods: ● Each side individually: The post positions are calculated separately for each side of the stair based on the approximate Distance value ● Left side has priority: The left side post distances are calculated based on the approximate Distance value; the posts on the right are placed symmetrically ● Right side has priority: The right post distances are calculated based on the approximate Distance value; the posts on the left side are placed symmetrically
On each corner	Places a post at each landing corner, regardless of the distance set
Min. Distance	Specifies the minimum distance between a corner post and the next adjacent post on a landing
Previews	Three previews display: ● The detailed plan and elevation view of a representative portion of the railing system ● An overall top/plan view of the stair ● An isometric view of the stair, when Component is set to 2D and 3D on the General tab